Method and apparatus for forming tucked-in selvage



Sept. 12, 1967 R. BERRY 3,340,902

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING TUCKED-IN SELVAGE 7 Filed March 17, 1966 4 SheetsSheet 1 INVENTOR.

RONALD BERRY.

ATTORNEY Sept. 12, 1967 R. BERRY 3,340,902

METHOD AND APPARATUS vFOR FORMING ED-IN SELVAGE Filed March 17, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

T a? v RONALD BERRY.

j 5M Q-W ATTORNEY Sept. 12, 1967 R. BERRY 3,340,902

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING TUCKED-IN SELVAGE Filed March 17, 1966 4 heets-Sheet 5 IN V E N T o R RONALD BERRY.

ATTORNEY Sept. 12, 1967 R. mm 3,340,902

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING TUCKED-IN SELVAGE Filed March 17, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 [I HIM? INVENTOR.

H RONALD BERRY.

ATTORNEY United States Patent METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING TUCKED-IN SELVAGE Ronald Berry, Hopedale, Mass, assignor, by mesne assignments, to John Donald Marshall and Horace L. Bornar as trustees, known as The Carolina Patent Development Trust Filed Mar. 17, 1966, Ser. No. 535,108 14 Claims. (Cl. 139-122) This invention relates to selvage forming means for shuttleless type looms, more particularly to that type of selvage in which the unsecured filling ends are tucked back into the fabric.

It is a general object of the invention to provide improved means and method for weaving a fabric selvage upon a shuttleless type loom.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device Which shall control the filling end positively during reinsertion into the selvage warp threads.

It is a further object to provide a selvage device for a shuttleless loom which shall take from the yarn carrier the extending end of each pick of filling and reinsert the extending end, under controlled tension, into the selvage warp threads. I

It is a further object of the invention to provide improved mechanism for cutting the reinserted extending end of each pick in such a way that all such ends are of equal length, and further means for disposing of that portion of each end which has been cut away.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a selvage forming device whose path of movement is relatively short and is synchronized to the timing of the filling inserting members in a way not to be unduly affected by changes in loom speed.

It is a still further object to provide a tucking-in device which may be applied to either side of a loom or application may be made to both sides should that be desirable.

It is a general object of this invention also to devise a novel method for forming the selvage in a shuttleless loom whereby the extending end of 'each pick of filling is taken from the yarn carrier and maintained under constant tension while being reinserted into the selvage shed.

It is a further object to devise a method for cutting each extending end after its reinsertion into the shed so that all reinserted ends are of equal length.

It is a still further object to provide a method which shall include the step of removing from the open selvage shed that cut portion of the end prior to the beat-up action by the loom lay.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent as further details are disclosed.

Shuttleless wide-fabric looms are known in the art as those in which cut lengths of filling yarn are drawn from a fixed source outside of the loom and inserted by carriers into the warp sheds. The fabric from such looms has at least one selvage with a fringe-like extension which may be left or trimmed in some manner unless the ends are turned back and woven into the selvage yarn. Tucking in the loose ends has in the past presented numerous problems for such reasons as uneven lengths, loss of direct contact with yarn, lack of tension, snapping back and doubling up. This invention is directed toward improvements in apparatus and method by which many of the problems above may be overcome.

The invention will be described in greater detail by reference to a specific embodiment thereof as shown in the accompanying figures of drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in place upon the left-hand end of a loom;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of that in FIG. 1 with a portion broken away for clarity;

FIG. 3 is a portion of the drawing in FIG. 2 but showing the yarn cutting blades injected into the warp shed;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the filling receiving member and the inserting means in the filling transfer position following beat-up;

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4 with the parts moved to the filling inserting position;

FIG. 6 is an elevation in detail of the yarn severing means;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the parts shown in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmental elevation of the cutter triggering bracket and tab as positioned in FIG. 3.

Now referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus 17 of the invention is shown fixed to the left-hand side of a wellknown shuttleless type loom just forward of the fell 18 of the woven fabric 19. 'It should be understood that a unit might be made in reverse and applied to the righthand side or units could be applied to both sides should such be desirable. Units might also be applied centrally of the loom for multiple width goods. A breast beam 20 of the loom framework supports the invention upon a plate 21 which extends forwardly toward the lay 22 and reed 23 both of which reciprocate in a known manner in beating up the inserted filling yarn to the fabric. A tape guide 24 directs a flat flexible tape 25 with a yarn carrier 26 secured to its free end into the alternately opened sheds formed of warp ends 27. In the instant disclosure, although not necessarily the case, cut lengths of filling are introduced from an outside source to warp sheds by a right-hand carrier (not shown) and, near the center of the fabric, given over to the carrier 26 to be drawn the remaining distance. It is not generally feasible to attempt to cut the lengths of filling to meet the exact width of the fabric but a small extending end is allowed to remain. This invention is intended to meet the need for a selvage in which the extended end is tucked back into the shed and beat up to form a neater and stronger finished fabric edge.

Movement is supplied to the actuating members of the invention, to be later explained, by a continually rotating shaft 28 which may be driven by any convenient means such as a link belt 29 (FIG. 2) in connection with a rotating loom shaft (not shown). It is desirable that the movement of these members be synchronized with the action of the yarn carrier 26. The shaft 28 extends through and is rotatably journaled by two upright brackets 30 and 31 which are fixed to the plate 21 (FIG. 1). One end of the' shaft 28 is driven by the chain 29 and the other end has a bevel gear 32 firmly fixed thereon. Between the brackets 30 and 31 two disc cams 33 and 34 are adjustably fixed for rotation with the shaft 28 by being secured to collars 35 and 36. The cams 33 and 34 perform similar functions but have different timing action.

A supporting shaft 37 is carried at its ends by the brackets 30 and 31 in a position somewhat above and forwardly of the shaft 28 (FIG. 2). A pivotal lever 38 is loosely held at one end by the shaft 37 and extends downwardly toward the plate 21. A cam follower roller 39 is fastened between the ends of the lever 38 and held in continual contact with the cam 33 by a tension spring 40 fixed to the plate 21 and to a point near the lower end of lever 38. A second pivotal lever 41 similar to lever 38 is also held upon the shaft 37 and has a cam follower roller 42 held into contact with the cam 34 by a tension spring 43 fixed near its lower end (FIGS. 1 and 2). The lower ends of the levers 38 and 41 will reciprocate forward and back in following the dictates of the cams 33 and 34. This action will be utilized to give movement to a receiving member and a severing means in a manner more fully explained below.

Filling end receiving member A connecting rod 44 is loosely fastened at one end to the lower end of the lever 38 and at the other end to a rocker arm 45. The rocker arm 45 is pivoted below the plate 21 and projects upwardly through an opening therein. A second rocker arm 46 spaced from the arm 45 is also pivotally supported below the plate 21. Arms 45 and 46 have a connecting link 47 fastened to their upper ends and both are rocked forward and back by the action of the rod 44. The link 47 has a downwardly extending arm 48 with a circular hole through the lower end (FIGS. 1 and The arm 48 supports and gives movement to a short length of small pipe 49 adjustably inserted into the circular hole. The rearwardly directed open end 50 of the pipe 49 is smoothly polished for receiving an end of filling yarn. The pipe 49 is inserted at its forward end into an air hose 51 which connects with some means (not shown) for causing air to be drawn inwardly through the open end 50 with sufficient force to draw in and hold an end of filling yarn securely. This may be effected by means of a venturi device or an air pump to cause a pressure drop at the open end 50 of the pipe 49.

The cam 33, through the linkage members, moves the pipe 49 to an advanced position (FIG. 1) where it may catch the end of filling 52 just released by the carrier 26 without any appreciable loss of tension. The pipe 49 is then moved quickly to a retracted position (FIG. 4) to avoid being struck by the reed 23 in its beat-up motion. The pipe 49 is moved generally perpendicularly to the path of the inserted filling 52 but passes through a small rising are due to the pivotal movement given to the arm 48. The rise and fall of this are allows the end of the pipe 50 to rise over the edge of the tape 25 and to drop slightly in approaching the carrier 26 and also to transfer the end of filling to the inserting means.

Yarn inserting means The yarn inserting means for removing the end of filling from the retracted pipe 49 and moving with the end of filling into the re-opened warp shed receives its motion also from the rotation of the shaft 28. The bevel gear 32 meshes with another bevel gear 53 of equal size fixed to the end of a shaft 54 which is supported between brackets 55 and 56 (FIGS. 1 and 2). A disc 57 is secured to the other end of the shaft 53 for rotation therewith. A connecting rod 58 is attached by a flexible rod end 59 to the face of the disc 57 near its outer periphery to receive reciprocatory movement. The rod 58 is connected by a second rod end 60 to an arm of a segmental gear 61 which is supported for oscillation between an air housing 62 and a shaft housing 63. A small spur gear 64 is in mesh with the gear 61 and keyed to a vertical shaft 65 (FIGS. 2 and 4) which extends upwardly into the air housing 62 and downwardly through the shaft housing 63. The vertical shaft carrying the gear 64 is hollow to allow air under negative pressure to pass through. An air hose 66 is fixed at one end to the air housing 62 and extends, as does the air hose 51, to any suitable means for causing a pressure drop and drawing air upwardly through the shaft housing 63.

A hollow tube 67 is tightly inserted upwardly into the shaft 65 to be oscillated thereby. The tube 67 has a lower portion formed generally as a horizontal crook ending in an open intake end 68 through which air may be inwardly drawn. The tube 67 is positioned to be close to and to swing around the usual loom temple 69 by which the woven fabric 19 is held. When the pipe 49 is moved into its retracted position, the end of filling will be drawn across and taken over by the intake end 68. This may be more easily accomplished by cutting off the intake of air through opening 50 by means of a valve (not shown) in the hose 51 but such may not be necessary in all applications. The tube 67 is at this point in a filling transfer position and as the warp threads are transposed to open a second shed, the tube 67 is rotated to the filling inserting position as 4 shown in FIG. 5. The end of filling has been held under constant tension from when it was taken from the carrier 26 to this point of being positively positioned in the reopened shed in preparation to be beat up with the next subsequent pick of filling. Before the beat-up occurs the tucked-in end is to be trimmed to a specific length so that all will be equal and form a neat appearing and strengthened selvage.

Yarn severing means The lower end of the lever 41 is joined to a connecting rod 70 which extends rearwardly toward the fell 18 and is attached to one arm 71 of a bell crank lever 72 (FIGS. 2 and 7). The lever 72 is pivoted upon a shaft 73 supported below the plate 21. A second arm 74 of the lever 72 carries a yarn cutting device generally designated 75 which may be oscillated by the action of the pivotal lever 41 and caused to be injected downwardly through the threads of the warp shed and there to trap and cut the end of filling being held by the tube 17.

A fixed cutter blade 76 having a cutting edge 77 is fastened to the arm 74 as by screws 78. Two threaded studs 79 and 80 extend from one side of the blade 76 (FIG. 7). A movable cutter blade 81 having a cutting edge 82 is assembled on the studs 79 and 80 through two elongated slots 83 and 84 which restrict the movement of blade 81 relative to blade 76. A restraining plate 85 is held resiliently against the blade 81 by compression springs 86 and 87 and lock nuts 88 applied to the studs 79 and 80. A tab 89 on the upper end of the blade 81 will serve to stop the movement of that blade and allow the edges 77 and 82 to overlap in a cutting action. An opening 90 between the edges 77 and 82 will trap the end of filling as the cutter blades descend through the warp shed (FIG. 6). A spring 91, fixed to the lever 72, is pressed against the tab 89 and urges the blade 81 downwardly or in an open position. The cutter device may be positioned longitudinally of the warp shed so that any predetermined selvage width can be obtained. A bracket 92 having a stop finger 93 is fastened to the plate 21 (FIG. 1) in a location to contact the tab 89 when the device is rotated downwardly (FIG. 8).

When the cutting device starts its motion into the shed, the end of filling is held as shown in FIG. 5 and the end will be trapped in the opening 90 and cut by the edges 77 and 82. The portion which is cut will be that amount which exceeds the desired width of the selvage. The cut portion will be drawn by suction through the tube 67 and disposed outside the shed in any convenient receptacle (not shown).

In operation, the tucking-in apparatus of the invention follows a cycle which repeats with each pick of filling placed by the yarn carrier. No matter whether the picks are inserted in the form of hairpins or as single picks, each extending end will be positively controlled while being reinserted into an open shed and will there be cut to length before being beat up into the fabric.

A cycle might start at the point shown in FIG. 1 where the carrier is leaving the shed and has released the end of filling to the pipe 49 which retracts to the position in FIG. 4. The tube 67 takes the filling end and, as the reed backs away, the tube enters the re-opened shed with the filling end under tension (FIG. 5). At this point the cutter device 75 descends through the warp shed and severs the filling yarn which is disposed of by the tube. The pipe 49 has advanced and taken control of a second pick which is beat up with the tucked-in first end and the cycle repeats.

The novel device disclosed herein provides a positive means and method for tucking in the loose extending ends of filling, for cutting all such ends to an equal length, and for disposing of the cut portion to thereby produce a neater reinforced selvage.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a loom of the type whereby cut lengths of filling yarn are introduced into warp sheds from an outside source by yarn carrying members and are beat up into a fabric by a loom reed, a'selvage forming apparatus comprising (a) a filling end receiving member for holding each end of filling yarn as it is released by one of said carrying members, and

(b) a yarn end inserting means for removing the end of filling from said receiving member and inserting it positively into a re-opened warp shed in position for being beat up with a subsequent length of yarn.

2. Mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said receiving member includes a pipe having an open end directed generally perpendicularly to the filling yarn prior to its being released by said carrying member.

3. Mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said pipe is adapted for drawing air inwardly through said open end at a pressure sufficient to hold the said end of filling yarn.

4. Mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said inserting means comprises a transferring member for transferring said end of filling yarn from said receiving member to the re-opened warp shed, and means for oscillating said transferring member between a filling transfer position and a filling inserting position in timed relationship with a said carrying member.

5. Mechanism as defined in claim 1 which further comprises yarn severing means for trimming the inserted end of filling within the re-opened warp shed.

6. Mechanism as defined in claim 5 wherein said severing means includes a pair of yarn cutting edges movably supported for injection into each opened warp shed for trapping and cutting the end of filling inserted therein.

7. Mechanism as defined in claim 6 wherein said pair of cutting edges is adjustably positioned relative to an edge of said fabric for cutting the length of the inserted ends of filling equally and forming a selvage having a predetermined width, and wherein said mechanism further includes means for disposing outside of the warp shed that which is cut from the said inserted end.

8. Mechanism as defined in claim 3 which further comprises (a) means for advancing and retracting said receiving member to an advanced position to receive the end of yarn and to a retracted position to allow said reed to beat up an introduced length of yarn,

'(b) said inserting means including a hollow tube having an intake end through which air is adapted to be drawn under pressure for transferring said end of filling yarn from said receiving member to the reopened warp shed,

(c) means for oscillating said hollow tube between a filling transfer position and a filling inserting position,

'(d) yarn severing means movably supported for injection into each opened warp shed for trapping and cutting the end of filling inserted therein at a predetermined distance from an edge of said fabric, and

(e) driving means for providing movement to said receiving member, said inserting means, and said severing means in timed relationship with said carrying members.

9. Mechanism as defined in claim 8 wherein (a) said hollow tube is further adapted for disposing outside of the warp shed that which is cut from the said inserted end, and wherein (b) said yarn severing means includes a pair of yarn cutting edges, at least one of said pair of edges being movable toward and away from the other one of said pair of edges. ,1

10. A method of forming a selvage upon the fabric being woven in a shuttleless loom having yarn carrying members for introducing cut lengths of filling into warp sheds which comprises the steps of (a) transferring an end of said length of filling to a receiving member,

(b) transferring said filling end from said receiving member to an inserting means, and

(c) inserting said filling end into a warp shed.

11. The method of claim 10 which further includes the steps of (a) severing that portion of said inserted end of filling which may exceed the width of the desired selvage,

(b) introducing a subsequent length of filling into the shed With the said inserted filling end, and

(c) beating up the said subsequent length of filling and the said inserted filling end into the woven fabric.

12. The method of claim 11 which further includes the steps of (a) injecting a severing means into each said warp shed subsequent to inserting each end of filling therein,

(b) cutting any excessive length from each said end of filling, and I (c) disposing of the cut excessive length outside of said warp shed.

13. The method of claim 12 which further includes the steps of (a) advancing a receiving member toward said end of filling prior to receiving same,

(b) retracting said receiving member after receiving said end of filling, and

(c) drawing air inwardly of said receiving member during the steps of advancing, receiving and retracting for holding said end of filling under tension.

14. The method of claim 13 which includes the further steps of *(a) drawing air inwardly of said inserting member for holding said end of filling under tension during said steps of inserting and cutting, and

(b) disposing of said cut excessive length through said inserting member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,267,287 1:2/1941 Moessinger 139122 3,100,003 8/1963 Feliks '139128 3,299,912 1/1967 Birmans et al. 139'194 MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner. H. S. JAUDON, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A LOOM OF THE TYPE WHEREBY CUT LENGTHS OF FILLING YARN ARE INTRODUCED INTO WRAP SHEDS FROM AN OUTSIDE SOURCE BY YARN CARRYING MEMBERS AND ARE BEAT UP INTO A FARBIC BY A LOOM REED, A SELVAGE FORMING APPARATUS COMPRISING (A) A FILLING END RECEIVING MEMBER FOR HOLDING EACH END OF FILLING YARN AS IT IS RELEASED BY ONE OF SAID CARRYING MEMBERS, AND (B) A YARN END INSERTING MEANS FOR REMOVING THE END OF FILLING FROM SAID RECEIVING MEMBER AND INSERTING IT POSITIVELY INTO A RE-OPENED WRAP SHED IN POSITION FOR BEING BEAT UP WITH A SUBSEQUENT LENGTH OF YARN. 